Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Eagle Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Eagle Beach or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Eagle Beach or El Calafate, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Eagle Beach or El Calafate?
Eagle Beach
Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.
El Calafate
Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.
The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.
El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Eagle Beach Prices
Aruba PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEagle Beach $500El Calafate $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Eagle Beach is $500, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $58. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Eagle Beach and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEagle Beach $290El Calafate $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEagle Beach $580El Calafate $74
Compare Hotels in Eagle Beach and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Eagle Beach or El Calafate? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eagle Beach $42El Calafate $4.20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:
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Round-trip Bus Ticket$2.84
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One Day Scooter Rental$51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:
- VIP luxury limousine airport transfer one way!: $190
- VIP Luxury Sedan Airport Transfer: $105
- Transfers & Pickups: $67
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Aruba Reina Beatrix Airport (AUA)- Aruba: $25
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Aruba Airport (AUA) - Aruba: $55
- Round-Trip Aruba Airport Transfer: $23
- Round-Trip Aruba Airport Express Transfer: $45
- Round Trip Private Airport Transfer: $120
- Private roundtrip Airport Transfers in Aruba: $60
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Port to Oranjestad Airport (AUA): $55
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Cruise Port to Oranjestad city: $55
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad City to Oranjestad Cruise Port: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- "Todo Glaciares" Boat Tour + optional transfers from El Calafate : $205
- Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $441
- Private Airport Transfer: $296
- Punta Walichu Reserve W Lunch & Transfer: $18
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $44
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $79
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $116
- Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $460
- Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Eagle Beach or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Eagle Beach change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayEagle Beach $150El Calafate $6.69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.
- Aruba Dinner and Nightlife Tour: $86
- Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
- Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
- Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
- Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
- Tropical Sailing Experience with BBQ Lunch or BBQ Dinner in Aruba: $135
- Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $72
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $98
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $115
- Stargazing Tour with Dinner and Transfers: $120
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner from Calafate: $190
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $190
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $255
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eagle Beach $155El Calafate $52
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Full Day Bike Rental$32
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour$126
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Horseback Riding Tour$89
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4 Hr Snorkel Trip$95
Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Eagle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Aruba Private Tour Mini Bus with SeaFood/Caribbean Food Included: $175
- Aruba Semi-Submarine Cruise from Oranjestad: $60
- Discover Snorkeling Tour Mangel Halto & Baby Beach: $115
- Explore Aruba Coastline with Kayaking Tour: $104
- 2-Hour Horseback Riding Tour to Little Natural Bridge in Aruba: $93
- 2-Seater UTV Island Tour in Aruba: $99
- Action-Packed Half Day Aruba UTV Tour and Cave Pool: $210
- Adventure Kayak & Snorkeling at Reef Island Aruba: $115
- Adventurous Clear Kayak And Snorkeling Tour At Mangel Halto: $105
- Alto Vista Chapel and Arashi Beach Adventure: $77
- Antilla Shipwreck Seabob Tour: $120
- Art, Facts & Baby Beach UTV Adventure by Fofoti: $235
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided History Museum Tour: $15
- Guided Tour National Park+Perito Moreno Glacier+Sailing (optional): $47
- Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise: $67
- From Perito Moreno walkways + Boat Tour (optional): $70
- Perito Moreno Glacier Walkway Tour: $71
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Tour: $79
- Tour to Walkways of the Perito Moreno Glacier: $83
- Day Tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $88
- From Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén: $89
- Full Day Guided Tour Perito Moreno National Park and Glacier: $90
- Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier Tour: $92
- Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour with optional Navigation : $96
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEagle Beach $40El Calafate $8.33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eagle Beach and El Calafate, we can see that Eagle Beach is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eagle Beach is in Caribbean Islands and El Calafate is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Eagle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eagle Beach than you might in El Calafate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eagle Beach Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.